If you're always worried about making everything "perfect" you could be keeping yourself from being happy.

While it's good to have high standards or to give your best effort, perfectionism can have debilitating consequences. That's according to Monica Ramirez Basco, PHD, author of "Never Good Enough: Freeing Yourself from the Chains of Perfectionism." Dr. Ramirez says it can be the cause of major stress and disease. For example, perfectionists are more vulnerable to depression then other people. It can also lead to eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia. Here's a few statements that show the thought process of a perfectionist. See if you have these thoughts.

I must be perfect or I'll be rejected.

When I achieve perfection, I will find inner peace.

If I do it perfectly, then everything will work out right.

t is possible to do things perfectly. If these sound familiar you might be setting yourself up for unnecessary disappointment and unhappiness.

But here are some things you can do to break that thought process. First off, challenge the idea that you must do things just right. Or that things can be done perfectly. Rather than waiting for everything to be perfect before you'll be happy, try being happy with everything you accomplish whether it's perfect or not. Next notice how when things aren't done perfectly that they still work out fine. And notice when you attempt to do things perfectly and how much it stresses you out. If thoughts of being perfect take up too much of your life, you might want to consider seeing a therapist. That way you can enjoy life, and all it's imperfections.